This is a word, a podcast from Slate.

I'm your host, Jason Johnson.

President Biden's plan to forgive millions of dollars in student loan debt is being criticized

by many conservatives, but hailed by many people who are drowning in loan repayments.

But for African American borrowers, does this plan do enough?

What we see with black borrowers is that they tend to have higher average loans than comparable

white borrowers and that number has creeped up over time.

Student debt forgiveness and the African American community coming up on a word with me, Jason

Johnson.

Stay with us.

Welcome to a word, a podcast about race and politics and everything else.

I'm your host, Jason Johnson.

President Biden took a step toward fulfilling a key campaign promise last week when he announced

a plan to relieve millions of dollars in student debt.

The policy would wipe out 10 to 20 thousand dollars in loans for most borrowers.

For many African Americans, the expectation that taking student loans will fund a step

up on the socio economic ladder is often undercut with the reality.

That student loan debt can widen the racial wealth gap instead of closing it.

Joining us to talk more about that is Finaba Ado.

She's an associate professor of public policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

She's also the co-author of a dream defaulted, the student loan crisis among black borrowers.

Finaba Ado, welcome to a word.

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